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Indian Army wants new combat vehicles to carry attack, surveillance drones

Army states the FICVs be procured in spirit of ‘Make in India’, ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat'
Indian Army wants new combat vehicles to carry attack, surveillance drones
Indian Army wants new combat vehicles to carry attack, surveillance drones

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS The Indian Army on Wednesday published a detailed request for information (RFI) from suppliers soliciting proposals to supply futuristic infantry combat vehicles (FICV).

Infantry combat vehicles, or infantry fighting vehicles as they are called in the west, are armoured vehicles that are the main means of transport of 'mechanised infantry'. These vehicles can carry anywhere from five to 10 soldiers into battle, while also being capable of engaging targets on the ground using guns and anti-tank missiles.

The RFI issued by the Indian Army specifies that it intends to procure up to 1,750 FICVs in three versions. The three versions are a 'gun version', a command version and a command and surveillance version. The 'gun version', which is primarily meant for combat operations, will constitute the bulk of the intended order quantity (55 per cent). Command versions of infantry combat vehicles are used by battlefield commanders to direct operations and correspond with superiors.

While the RFI specifies the gun version of the FICV should be capable of housing a crew of three and carrying at least eight soldiers, the remaining two variants should have a crew of three and should carry four soldiers.

The Indian Army specifies the FICVs will be procured in the spirit of ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes.

The Indian Army RFI specifies that the FICV should be equipped with at least a 30mm main gun and anti-tank missiles. These weapons have been standard features on infantry combat vehicles in both the erstwhile Soviet bloc and the west since the 1980s. However, apparently accepting the changing trends in warfare, the Indian Army has specified that the command and command and surveillance versions of the FICV be capable of carrying drones for surveillance and also suicide strike missions (known as 'loitering munitions').

Loitering munitions

The Indian Army has specified that both FICV versions be capable of carrying loitering munitions that can attack moving targets, including ones that are armoured. The RFI specifies the loitering munitions be capable of providing real-time information back to the commander and gunner of the FICV.

Loitering munitions have attracted attention in recent years as a means of both surveillance and attack. Loitering munitions are significantly smaller than standard surveillance drones and can detect targets concealed by terrain. Azerbaijan made extensive use of loitering munitions of Israeli origin to strike Armenian forces in the war between both nations last year. Last year, 

 

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